The Bog Standard School Toilet Award

School toilets are often neglected due to lack of funding, inadequate regulations and simply because other priorities get in the way. But, as any health professional of school age children knows, school toilets are vital. They affect pupils - their education, health and happiness.

The national Bog Standard campaign, the campaigning arm of the children’s charity ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) has introduced a new School Toilet Award. Its aim is to encourage schools to improve their toilets and to recognise and reward the efforts of an increasing number of schools that take care to ensure that their toilets are cleaned properly, well stocked, private and in good working order and are accessible to pupils as and when they need them.

Schools from the initial three-year pilot of the award with key Health Schools teams, report a positive influence on pupils' willingness and ability to learn, their behaviour, self-esteem, morale and attendance levels.

The School Toilet Award is open to every primary and secondary school, including special schools, maintained and non-maintained, in the UK, as well as British schools overseas. Schools can apply for the award online or by post. There is no cost to schools - entry and support materials are free. Schools can enter by completing a self assessment form along with a pupil’s questionnaire at www.bog-standard.org 

RCN members can make a real difference in helping schools to realise the impact of school toilets on children and young people. Copies of a colour flyer about the School Toilet Award can be printed from the Support Materials page on the Bog Standard website. It can be sent to schools with an accompanying letter encouraging schools to focus on their toilets.